The biggest goal of our network is to boost the use of Additive Manufacturing and thus bring the technology into more applications. To do this, we must first and foremost empower users to implement AM in their companies.

In 2018, a number of companies from the network (including DB, Knorr Bremse, Volswagen, TÜV-Süd, Fraunhofer, Airbus,…) got together in a working group for this purpose and spent more than a year discussing the hurdles they encountered when introducing Additive Manufacturing, how they dealt with them and what ways they found to speed up processes, motivate colleagues or secure funding for the project. Oliver Cynamon, now managing director of FIT Production GmbH, has compiled these experiences: with tips, instructions and examples of how to create awareness for Additive Manufacturing in the company, motivate and empower the right employees and at the same time gain the support of the executives for the project.

The result is this guide, which neither helps with the creation of a business plan nor clarifies the question of which 3D printing technology is the right one for your company. Rather, it is intended to support courageous pioneers who are entering the Additive Manufacturing era, who are exploring the benefits of Additive Manufacturing for their own company or who have already gained initial experience. The guide shows organisational and communicative measures to inspire employees and to answer questions conclusively in order to ultimately benefit from the technology as a company.